Ekta R. Garg (Author of The Truth About Elves)

Ekta R. Garg wrote a new blog post Book review now up! Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Wednesday! I’m sharing my latest book review with you. Today I’m letting you know what I thought of the domestic Read more of this blog post »
Feb 19, 2026 03:42AM · like
Ekta rated a book liked it A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A woman scrabbling for a higher social standing finds herself murdering an intruder on the day of her son’s birthday party and hides the body. When a friend discovers what she’s done, the woman tries to frame her for the murder while balancing her hu ...more
Feb 18, 2026 03:44PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book really liked it The Jills by Karen Parkman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An NFL cheerleader learns one of her teammates has gone missing and might be in danger. Despite police involvement, the cheerleader is convinced no one is dedicating enough time to looking for her friend and decides to do her own investigation. What ...more
Feb 04, 2026 04:09PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Jills by Karen Parkman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Jills by Karen Parkman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book it was amazing A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young girl finds her entire world upended when the aftermath of war forces her family to leave their beloved home forever. The girl finds herself asking hard questions that have no answers, and yet she also manages to find some good in the world as ...more
Jan 21, 2026 02:42PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book really liked it X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A group of friends find themselves haunted by a ghost who is desperately trying to send them a message in a graveyard. The friends realize interacting with the ghost may not be the best thing to do, but when the graveyard itself is threatened the gro ...more
Jan 07, 2026 02:11PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book liked it Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic ev ...more
Dec 17, 2025 12:09PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book liked it A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery, #2) by Maxie Dara (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out ...more
Dec 08, 2025 04:12PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book really liked it The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situ ...more
Nov 26, 2025 02:41PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ekta rated a book really liked it Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Hart	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts ...more
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Ekta rated a book liked it Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victor ...more
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Ekta R. Garg wrote a new blog post

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Wednesday! I’m sharing my latest book review with you. Today I’m letting you know what I thought of the domestic Read more of this blog post »

Ekta rated a book liked it

A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage
by M.K. Oliver (Goodreads Author)

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A woman scrabbling for a higher social standing finds herself murdering an intruder on the day of her son’s birthday party and hides the body. When a friend discovers what she’s done, the woman tries to frame her for the murder while balancing her hu A woman scrabbling for a higher social standing finds herself murdering an intruder on the day of her son’s birthday party and hides the body. When a friend discovers what she’s done, the woman tries to frame her for the murder while balancing her husband’s flagging career, her daughter’s application to a fancy school, and a mother-in-law who’s actively scheming to get her out of the picture. Author M.K. Oliver captures an audacious, razor-sharp voice in his protagonist with a plot that sags a little in the middle in the mostly enjoyable debut A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage.

Lalla Rook knows she’s different; no one has to remind her. But even if she doesn’t have a touchy-feely relationship with her children, she is determined to do the best for them and her husband, Stephen. Her first project is to get Stephen to make partner at his bank so his pay will go up and they can afford the £6 million house she’s been drooling over in one of the most upscale parts London. So far, Stephen has spent more time moping about his father dying, although Lalla doesn’t know why. When her own father died, she didn’t bat an eye. Why should Stephen care so much?

Her second project is to get her older child, Nelly, into the highly coveted London prep school that will guarantee Nelly an upward trajectory in life. Never mind that Nelly is only 6 or that she put the class hamster into a tank of water and walked away from it. Never mind that Nelly isn’t touchy-feely herself and often stares or laughs an inappropriate times. Lalla knows all too well what it’s like to be labeled and then have to live with that label, no matter what she’s like on the inside. She won’t tolerate the same treatment for Nelly.

This on top of being a leader in her social circle, where she pays £450 for her son’s birthday cake and then passes it off as homemade to impress her high-flying friends, is a lot to deal with. Lalla really doesn’t have time for anything else, especially not the intruder who tries to attack her on the day of her son’s party. Thinking on her feet, Lalla grabs a kitchen knife and stabs the intruder seven times. It may seem excessive, but Lalla’s never believed in doing anything by half measures.

The bigger problem comes in what to do with the body afterward and whether she can get a new Persian rug to replace the one the body has ruined by bleeding all over it. Then one of her friends discovers what Lalla has done, and she really has to scramble to cover all her bases. The easiest thing is to frame her friend for the intruder, but that isn’t going so well. Planting DNA evidence is a little more complicated than what Lalla has time for. How is she going to juggle that plus raising the extra cash for a deposit on the new house she wants to buy without her husband knowing and help another friend who reveals she’s being blackmailed? Really, it’s all too much.

Author M.K. Oliver gives readers an audacious, saucy character in Lalla. Just when it seems like she can’t say anything more outrageous, she outdoes herself. Being surrounded by other characters sharpens Lalla’s barbs until they’re pinprick dangerous, and readers will fully enjoy the opening chapters of the book.

At some point, however, fatigue may set in with Lalla’s audacity. There’s only so many times a character can say something out of left field and it have the same cratering impact. Her distinctive voice makes her stand out, but at times it also feels like a device used to hide the middle third of a plot that loses steam. The revelation of who the intruder is and why he came after Lalla comes with an onslaught of other information, and readers may be unsure which one gets more importance. The meddling mother-in-law is a welcome change, but as the book goes on some readers may find themselves pitying Lalla more than anything else.

Nevertheless, the book is a fun ride through the upper levels of London society, and the fantastical nature of the novel, bordering at times on satire, will guarantee readers really won’t know what’s coming next. The ending is also unexpected, and readers will find themselves engaged to get there. ...more

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The Jills
by Karen Parkman (Goodreads Author)

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An NFL cheerleader learns one of her teammates has gone missing and might be in danger. Despite police involvement, the cheerleader is convinced no one is dedicating enough time to looking for her friend and decides to do her own investigation. What An NFL cheerleader learns one of her teammates has gone missing and might be in danger. Despite police involvement, the cheerleader is convinced no one is dedicating enough time to looking for her friend and decides to do her own investigation. What she discovers along the way will lead her straight back to her own past and the parts of it she would rather forget. Debut author Karen Parkman builds a mostly compelling thriller with the backdrop of professional cheerleading in her new book The Jills.

Buffalo resident Virginia Barton has an incredibly glamorous job: she’s a Jill, a cheerleader and dancer for the Buffalo Bills football team. Despite the crummy pay and needing to hold down a second job, Virginia loves being a Jill. When she’s in the stadium and 70,000 fans are cheering for her and the rest of the squad, Virginia feels at home with the other girls.

This is especially true of Jeanine who joined the Jills around the same time as Virginia did. They’re best friends, performing by day, bar hopping at night. When Virginia is with Jeanine, she feels more confident and happier. She doesn’t have to think about her little sister who has been in and out of rehab too many times to count or her mother who became a functioning alcoholic after her dad died.

Virginia also doesn’t have to worry about money like the other Jills do. Her dad worked with local mob boss, Stanley Palladino, and since her dad died Stanley has taken Virginia under his wing. She knows Stanley has some shady practices, but she also knows he wouldn’t hurt anyone. She can trust him, because he’s always proven to be trustworthy. Stanley also has a major financial stake in the Jills, which means he really cares about helping people.

Yet even Stanley’s connections make Virginia pause when the unthinkable happens: on a Sunday when she’s supposed to show up for a game, Jeanine goes missing. No matter how many times Virginia and the other Jills and their director, Suzanna, call or text, Jeanine doesn’t answer. Virginia imagines all the worst scenarios. She knows that Jeanine uses drugs occasionally, and her experiences with her younger sister, Laura, have taught Virginia to expect the worst.

Nothing about Jeanine’s disappearance makes sense. She was dating Bobby Paladino, Stanley’s son, who’s known to be a possessive boyfriend, but Jeanine has never had trouble standing up to him. Because of the self-defense tactics that are drilled into the Jills from Day One, Virginia knows Jeanine would reach out if she could. No one with any authority seems as panicked about the situation as Virginia is, though, which makes her even more suspicious.

Despite several warnings from Suzanna to stay on track with her practices and contracted appearances, Virginia starts to get reckless as she launches her own investigation into Jeanine’s disappearance. As she follows the breadcrumbs of Jeanine’s life, Virginia starts to realize that she and Jeanine may have been more closely tied than she first knew and that the small-time trouble she was imagining is nowhere near the truth.

Author Karen Parkman shares in her author’s note at the end of the book the newspaper article that sparked the idea for the novel and the extensive research she did to write it, and Parkman’s efforts at authenticity ring true. Virginia is the pure embodiment of a cheerleader in the 21st century, a woman who wants to own her individuality while also stepping into the identical lines and uniform of a professional dancer. Even as she’s struggling with each piece of revelatory information about Jeanine, Virginia grapples with a patriarchal system that empowers women and entraps them all at the same time.

Parkman finds a balance between moving the plot along and Virginia’s observations about her own life. At times the fond recollections about her times with her sister can slow the book down, and the novel, while an admirable debut, suffers from a middle section that tends to slump. What will keep readers engaged is the book’s protagonist, her audacity at going after the truth, and the realistic portrayals of a world that many don’t even realize exists.

The novel could have used some tightening in those portions, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. Readers who like to see the typical domestic thriller set against unusual backdrops will definitely want to check this one out. ...more

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A Year Without Home
by V.T. Bidania (Goodreads Author)

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A young girl finds her entire world upended when the aftermath of war forces her family to leave their beloved home forever. The girl finds herself asking hard questions that have no answers, and yet she also manages to find some good in the world as A young girl finds her entire world upended when the aftermath of war forces her family to leave their beloved home forever. The girl finds herself asking hard questions that have no answers, and yet she also manages to find some good in the world as well. Author V.T. Bidania leans into her own family’s experience to share her protagonist’s poignant story in her newest book, A Year Without Home.

Eleven-year-old Gao Sheng lives in a lovely home on a hill in Laos. Her house has peach trees out back with the sweetest fruit, and she and her siblings and cousins roll down the hill during their playtime. Even though her younger brother can bug her sometimes, she loves him and the rest of her family with everything inside of her.

Yet it’s clear that not everyone loves them back. Gao Sheng and her family are Hmong, and there are many people in Laos who believe the Hmong should leave. This is even more apparent after the end of the recent war, but Gao Sheng isn’t worried. The Communists left; everything should be fine.

Except it isn’t. One day while Gao Sheng and her brother are in school, word comes that the Communists have returned. This time they have a list of all the people who fought against them. Gao Sheng knows her father’s name is on the list, but she doesn’t even have a chance to start worrying. All the grownups in the family make fast plans, and Gao Sheng—the oldest not only of her own siblings but all the kids in the house—gets a bad feeling. Yet she can’t show it; the little ones in the family don’t understand. She has to be strong for them.

The family goes from the house on a hill to a river escape in the middle of the night on boats and finally to a refugee camp in Thailand. There Gao Sheng tries to be brave, but it’s hard. Conditions at the camp are challenging enough when the family arrives, and they start to get worse as more refugees join them.

Yet even in a place where people get sick and don’t have enough to eat, there are still moments of fun. New friends are found, and Gao Sheng even gets to go back to school. In the year she and her family spend at the camp, Gao Sheng realizes that home isn’t just a location. It’s also a place you find in your heart.

Author V.T. Bidania shares in a note at the end of the book that she used her own family’s experiences to tell Gao Sheng’s story, and that authenticity rings true through every verse of the novel. The book doesn’t shy away from sharing the harsh conditions of the refugee camp or of the utter terror Gao Sheng and her family feel at the news of the Communists’ return. Yet it does so in gentle language that readers in the target audience will find instructive and evocative.

Bidania uses the novel-in-verse form to her greatest advantage with descriptions of Laos and the camp in Thailand practically jumping off the page and coming alive. Gao Sheng’s story becomes the story of every young girl, every young person who has lived through such traumatic times; it displays in clear, easy prose how war forever alters life for the youngest of residents in damaged countries. The book highlights the aftermath of a conflict often passed over, especially in modern times. Bidania’s novel proves it bears remembering.

Teachers in particular will want to add this book to their classroom libraries, and anyone wanting to further their knowledge of life after the Vietnam War should read this. ...more

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X Marks the Haunt
by Lindsay Currie (Goodreads Author)

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A group of friends find themselves haunted by a ghost who is desperately trying to send them a message in a graveyard. The friends realize interacting with the ghost may not be the best thing to do, but when the graveyard itself is threatened the gro A group of friends find themselves haunted by a ghost who is desperately trying to send them a message in a graveyard. The friends realize interacting with the ghost may not be the best thing to do, but when the graveyard itself is threatened the group figures out that maybe the ghost’s message is more complicated than they first realized. Author Lindsay Currie returns with another winning cast of characters and a plot that is downright creepy in the best way in her newest book, X Marks the Haunt.

At 12, Will Stone is old enough to know that most kids haven’t grown up in a graveyard like he has. His mother’s work overseeing the graveyard and arboretum means Will can read cursive like a pro, research family records, and help people looking for ancestors buried in the Graceland cemetery. While most kids are playing soccer, Will is learning how to dive deep into the pasts of those who made Graceland their final resting place.

When his class ends up at Graceland for a field trip, Will is a little nervous. His best friend, Stash, is the only one who knows about Will’s work at the cemetery and what it means to him. No one else, especially the class bully, Chris, has a clue. But then Chris and two other classmates, Michelle and Henry, find out, and Chris takes the opportunity to strong-arm a favor: Chris wants to get back into the cemetery after hours with Henry to record a video in one of the special cemetery vaults and post it on social media.

Will hates that Chris orders everyone around the way he does, and it’s clear how uncomfortable Henry is with the plan too. Still, he agrees to it. There’s no way, Will thinks, that Chris can figure out how to open the vault. The lock is so tricky that his mom is the only person who can unlock it. Will meets Chris and Henry at the cemetery that night and gives Chris the key, a hundred percent sure Chris will fail, give up, and forget the whole idea.

The entire plan goes sideways when Chris loses the key, and he and Henry run away. Soon after, Will starts seeing and hearing the spookiest things. He’s been in and around the cemetery his whole life and has never batted an eye at death. What he doesn’t like? Ghosts. Except now there’s one after Will, and she refuses to be ignored.

Even after telling Stash, Henry, and Michelle, Will is terrified. This ghost definitely means business. Not long after she arrives, the trees in the cemetery become severely diseased. The lake starts draining too. Will’s mom is freaking out, because caring for the trees was a passion project she shared with Will’s dad before he died in a car accident. More than that she has no idea what’s going on, and Will is afraid that if he and his friends can’t figure it out fast enough the ghost will make sure everyone knows.

Author Lindsay Currie gives middle grade readers a fantastic group of friends in Will and the others in this latest book. Will and Stash’s friendship is warm and three-dimensional, making their conflicts worrisome in the way readers want to worry about their favorite characters. Currie also makes sure adding Michelle and Henry to the mix feels organic. Will’s hesitation to share his life at the cemetery with new friends is justified, making their inevitable inclusion that much more realistic.

The horror elements of the book are good enough to frighten even older readers. Currie doesn’t hold back in terrifying her protagonist, yet she also maintains that fine balance of the book’s thrills with moving the plot forward. The scary portions aren’t included just to be scary; they serve a necessary purpose and provide Will and Co. with actual problems to solve. Like the best of books, solving the initial problems only creates more. The result is a fun race against time to see whether the kids will solve the mystery of the ghost and save the cemetery or lose everything, and readers will absolutely be invested for every chapter.

If the book can be faulted anywhere, it’s in the pacing of certain sections. Readers won’t have much time to get to know Will before he squares off with Chris; conversely, the “X” in the title takes longer to show up. Advanced readers may find themselves getting slightly impatient waiting for it to come; when it does, however, it’s worth the wait.

Middle grade readers who love scary books will definitely enjoy this one. Older readers may want to check it out too. ...more

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Dead Ringer
by Chris Hauty (Goodreads Author)

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An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic ev An unlikely pair of colleagues set out on a quest to find new information linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As they try to keep one step ahead of a shadowy, all-powerful organization, they will find their own views about the historic event challenged in unforeseen ways. Author Chris Hauty focuses his talent for writing cinematic novels on this turning point in American history in a novel that is surprisingly sluggish at times in Dead Ringer.

Joseph Mingus used to be a Secret Service agent—used to be. These days he’s just trying to keep it all together, working security at a strip club in D.C., earning a day’s living, and putting the baking skills he learned in prison to good use. It’s a little lonely, but with an on-again, off-again relationship with Olivia, the woman he knows deep down he loves, life is manageable. Then comes word that Olivia has been murdered, and Mingus’s world gets tossed upside down.

He doesn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt her. Olivia worked in the National Archives, so she had access to some important documents, but not anything worth being killed over. Then Mingus meets Juan Verduago, and everything he thought he knew about, well, everything, changes.

Juan is a Jesuit priest, a professor, and a self-proclaimed expert on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He’s convinced that Olivia saw something she wasn’t supposed to see, which is only confirmed by a posthumous message he receives from Olivia. That message gives Juan just enough information to set him on an adventure to find hidden information that could upend what everyone knows about the death of JFK. What’s more, Olivia pleads with Mingus in the message to stick with Juan and protect him.

In another part of the country, a mysterious organization simply referring to themselves as The Movement are preparing their latest favorite candidate for a presidential bid. Horrified by the godless turn the country has taken, the powerful members of The Movement are determined to put America back on the right track. They know that if certain facts come to light, it will be the end of everything they’ve worked for but it doesn’t matter. Saving the country’s soul is more important, and if that means getting rid of a disgraced Secret Service agent and an insignificant professor, so be it. Except the methods used to do just that may be too unsavory even for the likes of The Movement.

As Mingus and Juan fight to stay alive and keep one step ahead of the assassin on their heels, they’ll form an uneasy alliance with each other. In light of the clues they discover, the challenge of their alliance is nothing compared to what they’re being asked to accept: that they, and the world, really don’t know the truth at all about what happened on November 22, 1963.
Author Chris Hauty is a seasoned veteran in writing in broad gestures with detailed descriptions that immediately come alive in readers’ minds, and this book is no different. Setting up a hunt for clues some have compared to The DaVinci Code, Hauty offers plausible reasoning for the “facts” his characters uncover. Anyone fascinated with JFK’s murder may find new information here to ponder.

The book falters, however, in how long it takes for Mingus and Juan to go from clue to clue. Copious information dumps also make the pace drag, which may lead some readers to feel that this may have worked better as a nonfiction work positing a theory different from the accepted one for the historic event. Hauty’s narration rings with authenticity, emphasizing what must have been months or even years of research, but it also comes across more didactically than the average thriller should. With Juan eager to educate Mingus and, by proxy, readers on every aspect of every clue they encounter, readers’ eagerness for the premise may turn into impatience. The level of violence shown by the assassin after Juan and Mingus is also hard to stomach at times.

Those wanting to explore additional possibilities connected to Kennedy’s death may find this one interesting. Others may want to try a different book instead. ...more

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A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery, #2)
by Maxie Dara (Goodreads Author)

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A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out A young woman who works for Death learns her twin is slated to die and to tries to save him by going on a road trip. Despite their sometimes-contentious relationship, the siblings stumble upon secrets connected to their past and set out to figure out a mystery. Author Maxie Dara brings back her interesting concept of Death’s collectors in a book that flounders in her newest release, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death.

Nora Bird knows a lot about death. She knows many different ways a person’s life can end, which is why she’s so careful not to upend her own daily routine. Given that she gets stacks of files on her desk every week at S.C.Y.T.H.E.—the Secure Collection, Yielding, Transport, and Handling of Essences—telling her just how people died and who has to collect their souls, Nora plans every moment of her life.

Her work with S.C.Y.T.H.E. only makes sense, given that she and her twin brother, Charlie, were orphaned at the age of 6 when their parents got into a car accident and had to go live with their stern grandmother. If she knows what forms death can take, Nora can avoid them. And then a file with Charlie’s name on it lands on her desk, and Nora realizes she can’t just worry about herself. Now she has to worry about her brother too.

Despite being twins, Nora and Charlie haven’t been close in years. Half the time she’s not even sure where he is; they do text on their birthday, but that’s about it. Now that she’s got proof Charlie’s going to die soon, Nora is determined to save him because he’s the only family she has left. She grabs his file and runs from the office to Charlie’s current home, picks him up after convincing him he’s in real danger, and starts driving.

After several close calls—S.C.Y.T.H.E. is nothing if not persistent in getting the job done—the twins decide to escape to Virgo Bay, Nova Scotia, their father’s hometown. They figure there who knew their parents might be willing to hide them. The siblings discover, however, that Virgo Bay isn’t safe either.

Someone in the small coastal town is on a mission to make sure Charlie doesn’t survive. Nora knows this isn’t someone from work; it’s someone with a personal mission to kill Charlie. But why? And why does everyone behave like they’re hiding something?

Author Maxie Dara’s new book is a companion to her first novel, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer. Less a sequel and more a continuation of exploring the same workplace, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death offers a modern-day look at the title character, placing it within the bounds of corporate America with paper pushers and drone workers doing seemingly mundane tasks. The setup for S.C.Y.T.H.E. in this second book is rife with possibility for worldbuilding, yet Dara doesn’t delve nearly enough into Nora’s workplace. Readers stay there for a mere handful of pages before Nora hits the road, and once she and Charlie are on the run anyone new to this series will only get glimpses of the organization.

While the narration tries to convince readers that Virgo Bay is a mysterious place with many secrets, the main mystery of the novel is why Nora and Charlie keep returning to a secondary character for answers to all their questions. For the most part, the siblings spend their time working out their emotional distance and questioning why they didn’t know about the people in Virgo Bay connected to their father. Attempts on Charlie’s life aren’t enough to spur either twin to take true decisive, plot-furthering action. Instead they wring their hands, hide in a basement bedroom, read some old files, and keep going back to that same secondary character for more answers.

Dara’s inclusion of a chatty parrot offers a mild distraction from the fact that the plot stutters once the action moves to Virgo Bay, but after a while even people who have no familiarity or connection to animals will start to question the events connected to the parrot. The main saving grace in this book is Dara’s wry, often deadpan wit that offers unusual ways to look at things while at the same time entertaining readers. Fans of the first book may want to give this one a try; new readers can take their chances. ...more

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The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend (Goodreads Author)

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A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situ A research assistant finds her life in upheaval after her academic idol is found dead. When the assistant starts to suspect foul play, everyone around her assumes her grief is throwing her eccentricities into overdrive. The more she examines the situation with a cool, collected approach, however, the more convinced she becomes that her boss was murdered. Author Peggy Townsend offers readers a protagonist reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant in her excellent new book The Botanist’s Assistant.

Margaret Finch is well into her fifties and living her dream. She’s the head research assistant to Dr. Jonathan Deaver in the botany lab at Roosevelt University, and she couldn’t be happier. Margaret thinks Dr. Deaver is a literal genius and is so grateful every day that she gets to work in a lab where a cure for cancer is within reach. Dr. Deaver’s groundbreaking research means they’re close to making the cure a reality, which only makes Margaret admire him even more.

Everything comes to a screeching halt when Dr. Deaver is found dead in his office, just when his research was about to jump to the next big step. Margaret is beyond heartbroken; she’s suspicious. The condition of Dr. Deaver’s office tells her that the famous scientist’s final moments were spent in struggle. Even though Margaret shares her suspicions with the campus police officer assigned to the death and also with university officials, no one is ready to listen.

That bothers Margaret but not as much as it might some people. Single and living alone in a 19th-century cabin up on a mountain, Margaret actually prefers solitude. Spending time with people is highly overrated, especially when they ignore her because she’s six feet tall and doesn’t behave like everyone else. If no one believes Dr. Deaver was murdered, Margaret will simply have to prove it herself.

Despite her dedication to her task, Margaret finds herself struggling to get information. Joe Torres, the botany lab’s custodian, offers to lend a helping hand. Margaret is suspicious of him too at first, but Joe quickly earns Margaret’s trust and they become partners in solving a crime. Because the more Margaret starts to dig, the more convinced she is that this is most definitely a crime.

Pretty soon someone starts threatening Margaret, which Joe says is a sign that she’s on the right track. In her investigation, Margaret discovers some unsavory information about Dr. Deaver and has to tolerate the scientist’s replacement, Dr. Blackstone. Dr. Blackstone makes it loud and clear that he believes Dr. Deaver stole the ideas for his research, and he doesn’t hesitate to take over the lab. But Margaret has the experience of working there that Dr. Blackstone doesn’t, and she has her pure loyalty to Dr. Deaver and science. No matter what happens to her, she’s not going to let either of them down.

Author Peggy Townsend takes readers into the world of academic politics with great success in this book. She pulls the curtain back on the rivalries and downright nastiness that can pervade in the sector of higher education, making Dr. Blackstone’s malignant indignation feel real and almost relatable. The classic phrase “publish or perish” is alive and well in Townsend’s Roosevelt University.

Similar to Eleanor Oliphant, Molly the Maid, and other iconic characters who don’t quite fit into society, protagonist Margaret Finch observes the world with a keen eye and relies on her instincts to guide her. Townsend gives Margaret her own personality in the form of her love of plants and the plant world. Readers who love gardening will definitely learn a thing or two from this one as Margaret shares key information about all things botanical.

The book tends to be a little too quiet at times in terms of the plot’s pacing. Typically murder mysteries contain a sense of urgency, and while there are some things in the book that feature a limited timeline for the most part the novel focuses on Margaret’s insistence that Dr. Deaver was murdered and she’s going to prove it. Barring a threat or two, those who might want to cover it up have clearly moved on. Sometimes Townsend’s choice to let Margaret sit with her thoughts works; other times some readers might struggle a little to stay with her instead of skipping ahead.

Overall, however, the book is an enjoyable read in the genre, and the identity of the killer is truly a surprise. Those who like a murder mystery set in academia will like this one. ...more

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Red as Royal Blood
by Elizabeth Hart

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When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts When a maid is unexpectedly named the heir to the throne by a dying king, the rest of the royal family is up in arms. Worse, the king leaves behind a note for the maid saying he was probably murdered, and she may be next. Author Elizabeth Hart debuts with a standalone novel that is a realistic look at court intrigue while also satisfying diehard romance fans in Red as Royal Blood.

Ruby has spent her entire life in the castle of the kingdom of Lumaria. She doesn’t remember a time outside of serving the royals. The official story is that her family died in the war, and she was dropped off in the castle kitchen to keep her safe. Since then, she’s learned to clean and fetch and make herself known only when the royals need something served to them.

Despite the trouble she would encounter, Ruby has struck up a longstanding friendship with Prince Rowan. The two sneak out to play games of chess and get into all sorts of mischief together. Ruby’s best friend, Sara, thinks Ruby and Rowan are more than friends, even though Ruby denies it. Not that she would mind; like his brothers, Rowan is so good looking it’s almost a crime. But Ruby is an independent thinker, and she doesn’t want to be tied down to anyone or anything just yet.

All of that changes when the king dies and it’s revealed that he recently changed the line of succession to name Ruby as his heir. Everyone, including Rowan, is flabbergasted, and Ruby is more shocked than anyone else. Why would the king name her of all people? They didn’t have any kind of connection to one another, and her parents died in the war. She can’t remember a time they even spoke to one another.

Things only get more complicated on the first day Ruby enters the late king’s chambers and discovers a note he left her that says if he’s dead then it was because he was murdered. He’s named Ruby as his successor, because he’s not sure if he can trust anyone else. Worse, he believes Ruby might be next to die, unless she can unravel the secrets behind his death.

Ruby doesn’t know if she has time to uncover a murder plot and run an entire kingdom and try to keep the rest of the royal family at bay. Every one of them has a reason to hate her, especially Rowan’s big brother, Asher, who would have inherited the throne if his father hadn’t changed everything. Ruby wishes Asher would understand that she didn’t want to be queen in the first place, even if it means an opportunity to live a life of luxury. She also can’t figure out why her insides turn to jelly every time Asher gets close to her, but if she doesn’t survive the assassination attempts on her life they’ll become worse than jelly.

Author Elizabeth Hart does a great job of balancing the demands of royal life with the mystery of who killed the king and could want Ruby dead along with the budding romance between her and Asher. As a protagonist, Ruby is smart and plucky but Hart doesn’t let her win every time. The in-built flaws and frustrations she experiences makes Ruby even more likeable as a main character, which will make readers more eager to find out exactly what is going on.

Hart leans into red herrings that are commonly found in murder mysteries and turns them around with a deft hand so that readers will be left guessing the murderer’s identity. At one point almost everyone is plausibly a suspect, no easy feat to pull off when there are so many characters who could justifiably want Ruby dead. Hart gives all of them reasonable motives, which adds to the tension and excitement as it builds.

The romance subplot occasionally feels shoehorned into some scenes, and the worldbuilding when it comes to the language could have been more imaginative. Seeing common-day expletives in a book set in what feels like Victorian times can feel a little jarring. Hart clearly has the writing chops to build an engaging story; doing some research on expletives from the eras or, even better, creating her own would have made the book that much better.

For the most part, however, this was an enjoyable read that will keep readers guessing to the end. Readers who enjoy books about royal life with court politics thrown in will definitely enjoy this one. ...more

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Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)

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A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victor A young woman moves to New York for a new job and to make her writing dreams come true. What begins as a simple job turns into a major turning point in a movement that will eventually give the country some of its most important writers. Author Victoria Christopher Murray introduces readers to a crucial historical figure in our nation’s development of key authors in a book that feels more like a textbook at times in the novel Harlem Rhapsody.

It's 1919, and Jessie Redmon Fauset gets off the train in New York City from Philadelphia with her mother and a trunk full of dreams in tow. She’s here at the behest of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the forerunners of civil rights for Black people in the 20th century. Will, as she calls him, has created the position of literary editor for Jessie at The Crisis, the magazine he founded that has quickly become a megaphone for Negro voices in their time. She’s also in New York because she and Will are in love, despite his status as a married man and her determination never to become attached to anyone in that way.

Yet she is attached. When Jessie isn’t taking in the sights and sounds of her new home in Harlem, she’s working on The Crisis and spending all of her time, work and personal, with Will. Jessie’s mother doesn’t approve at all. She warns Jessie time and again that remaining so strongly tied to a married man can only bring heartache for Jessie eventually, and in her head Jessie knows her mother is right. Her heart, however, has its own resolve and won’t let Will go. It doesn’t help that Will seeks her out in their free time for stolen nights together.

Even with the strong draw of Will, though, soon enough Jessie starts to find her feet in Harlem and her new job all on her own. She’s eager to nurture and guide new writers as she helps them prepare for publication in The Crisis. The magazine has a strong subscription base, and Jessie is determined to further solidify the publication’s hold. Racism, while less pronounced in New York, is still rampant everywhere. The Crisis acts as a voice for so many across the country who feel like theirs has been stolen from them because of the color of their skin.

Along with acting as editor, Jessie has dreams of releasing her own novel. She spends her time trying to balance her writing time, networking with other publishers, discovering new writers, and her affair with Will in a whirlwind life. It isn’t until she finally achieves her dream that she understands she hasn’t just been guiding new writers on their way to lifelong success; she’s been ushering in a movement.

Author Victoria Christopher Murray tells the story of a little-known figure who discovered some of the most critically-acclaimed Black authors of all time: Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen, among others. The story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, like so many other women in history, has receded to the background of more prominent figures, like W.E.B. Du Bois. Yet as Murray proves, people like Jessie need to be highlighted, celebrated, and remembered. In that regard, the book deserves high praise.

However, the novel at times reads less like “historical fiction” and more like a history textbook. Murray’s eagerness to share Jessie Redmon Fauset’s accomplishments gives all of them equal importance, which makes the book proceed on a lateral line rather than building to a clear climax. Without anything other than Jessie’s affair with Du Bois and the occasional conflicts between them, the book loses cohesion at times.

As the author explains in her note in the back of the book, she intentionally devotes a great deal of time and story real estate to the affair Jessie had with W.E.B. Du Bois. The relationship drew the ire of many of their contemporaries, and the reported treatment Du Bois gave Fauset will surprise and even disappoint some readers. The man responsible for so many major civil rights actions, including the founding of the NAACP, was, in the author’s words, “misogynistic and elitist,” and she writes him in many scenes through that lens.

The writing aside, readers will appreciate learning more about this woman who stood her ground and chose to chart her own path in a time when women were actively encouraged to focus on hearth and home. Those who enjoy learning about less well-known figures in history will want to check this out. ...more

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	The Truth About Elves 3.96 avg rating — 94 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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